Tuesday, February 24, 2009

The wait is nearly over. After a long winter break, the Champions League is ready to get back for the joy of millions of enthusiasts and supporters in Europe. Juventus’ wait will be one day longer.

The first matches will be played tonight (Inter and Roma in action) but the bianconeri will have to wait until Wednesday night to feel the turf of Stamford Bridge in London and play against Chelsea.

The European adventure of Ranieri’s team is therefore just about to return. The bianconeri will go on with the same will to do well shown in the first stage and which proved itself in the two encounters with Real Madrid.

Juventus will have two more weapons: David Trezeguet and Gigi Buffon, which are both available after having been forced to miss 5 out of the 6 matches and only contributed to the victory against Zenit (which was fundamental).

Before leaving Turin and taking off from Caselle airport en route to London, the goalkeeper spoke to the press. The first though went to his team-mates:

"If I have the chance to play tomorrow it’s only thanks to my team-mates who went through from the group stage. I have therefore the possibility of playing against Chelsea in a match which all of us old school players have been waiting for, for quite some time".

"We are conscious of the importance of this match and of the strength of the opponent. We are going to England with the right dose of humility, which doesn’t mean we are going there to play the role of supporting actors".

Stamford Bridge will also see the opposition of two of the best goalkeepers in the world. Buffon on one side and Cech on the other in a true and proper match within a match which the bianconero approaches with an ever improving condition as shown during the match against Palermo:

"I did not have any doubt that I would be back to my level. After a long stop due to injury, it is only normal to take some time to get back the right concentration and attention".